ARTURO P.

ALCARAZ
Philippines' "Father of Geothermal Energy Development"
(March 21, 1916 - March 10, 2001)
Birthplace: Manila, Philippines
Educational Background:
● Baguio City High School in 1933 (The young Alcaraz
graduated at the top of his class)
● There was no school of mining in Philippines, he entered
the College of Engineering, University of the Philippines,
Manila
● When Mapua Institute of Technology offered a degree in
mining engineering, Alcaraz transferred and received his
Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering from Mapua in 1937.
● After graduation, he received an offer from the Philippines Bureau of Mines as an aide in the
geology division. He then won a government scholarship to continue his education and training.
● He attended the University of Wisconsin and earned a Master of Science in Geology in 1941.
● Alcaraz was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1955 for two semesters of study at the
University of California at Berkeley, where he received a Certificate in Volcanology.
Achievements/ Contributions:
● 1951-1974, Alcaraz was appointed Chief Volcanologist of the Commission on Volcanology.
● 1962, Mapua Institute of Technology's Outstanding Alumnus
● 1971, Award for Science from the Philippine Association for the Advancement of Science
● In 1967, Alcaraz succeeded in harnessing geothermal steam to produce energy. The country's
first geothermal plant.
● 1968, Presidential Award of Merit for his work in volcanology and his initial work in geothermy.
● 1979, Philippines' Ramon Magsaysay Awardee for International Understanding for "supplanting
national jealousies that led to a confrontation, with increasingly effective cooperation and
goodwill among the neighboring peoples of Southeast Asia.
● In 1980, He received both the Gregorio Y. Zara Memorial Award in Basic Science from PHILAAS
and the Geologist of the Year Award from the Professional Regulatory Commission
● 1982, Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service for "his scientific insight and selfless
perseverance in guiding Filipinos to understand and use one of their greatest natural
resources."